HCA Healthcare reports solid first-quarter financials
Editor's Note Solid operating margins and an improved payer mix contributed to robust financial outcomes for HCA Healthcare in the first quarter of 2024, including “significant growth” in inpatient admissions, surgeries and emergency room visits, according to an April 29 article on Investing.com. According to the report, outpatient surgery revenue…
Per-person healthcare spending grows nearly 19% in 5 years
Editor's Note Average prices for healthcare services trended upward from 2018 to 2022 despite fluctuations in utilization of service, according to the annual Health Care Cost and Utilization Report (HCCUR) from the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI). In the same timeframe, per-person spending increased nearly 19%. "Prices, in particular, pose a…
OR Manager Conference: Lowest rates expire in one week
Editor's Note The lowest rates for the premier event for perioperative leaders, the 2024 OR Manager Conference, end May 10. Scheduled for October 28-30 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the event will provide learning, networking, and other opportunities for professionals in all perioperative settings, including hospitals, health systems,…
Hospitals boost cybersecurity budgets, staff
Editor's Note Hospital head counts and budgets reflect a growing emphasis on cybersecurity, according to a recent Moody’s Investment Service report. As detailed in an April 25 report in Becker’s Health IT, the Moody’s report is based on data from 148 healthcare organizations, 77% of which are hospitals. Cybersecurity team…
Kentucky passes first-ever state law decriminalizing medical mistakes
Editor's Note Healthcare workers in Kentucky will become the first in the country to gain protection from criminal prosecution for medical errors, WKYT reported April 30. Passed unanimously by both chambers of the Kentucky legislature and signed by Gov. Andy Beshear in March, the law was championed by the Kentucky…
Kaiser Permanente data breach affects 13.4 million
Editor's Note A recent data breach at Kaiser Permanente could impact as many as 13.4 million people who are part of the healthcare conglomerate’s Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Fox Business reported the news April 29. The breach was first reported…
Study explores link between diverticulitis and colorectal cancer
Editor's Note Using data from the Gastrointestinal Quality Improvement Consortium registry, this 2024 study provides new insights into the practice of recommending colonoscopy following diverticulitis episodes to rule out colorectal cancer (CRC), Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology April 24 reports. This study, which analyzed over 4.5 million colonoscopies performed in the…
State lawmakers target rising healthcare costs via legislation on hospital facility fees
Editor's Note An increasing trend in healthcare billing has seen patients facing unexpected "hospital facility fees," even for routine services at clinics not physically connected to a hospital, Stateline April 25 reports. These fees, which can range significantly, are tacked on by hospitals to cover operational costs and have been…
FDA medical device Class 1 recalls trend upward
Editor's Note The number of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Class 1 recalls—the most serious classification—for medical devices has been trending upwards. Regulatory News, a publication of the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society (RAPS), reported the news April 25. According to the report, Anne Reid, program director of the Office…
Data cast doubt on recommendation to delay weight-loss meds prior to surgery
Editor's Note A recent analysis of insurance claims data suggests weight-loss medications like Ozempic (semaglutide), Trulicity (dulaglutide), and other glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists do not increase risks associated with undergoing anesthesia. As reported April 22 in MedPage Today, these finding that contradicts a June 2023 recommendation from the American Society of…
Free Daily News
- HCA Healthcare reports solid first-quarter financials
- Per-person healthcare spending grows nearly 19% in 5 years
- OR Manager Conference: Lowest rates expire in one week
- Hospitals boost cybersecurity budgets, staff
- Kentucky passes first-ever state law decriminalizing medical mistakes
- Kaiser Permanente data breach affects 13.4 million
- Study explores link between diverticulitis and colorectal cancer
- State lawmakers target rising healthcare costs via legislation on hospital facility fees
- FDA medical device Class 1 recalls trend upward
- Data cast doubt on recommendation to delay weight-loss meds prior to surgery